22 Ways to Practice Emotional Self-Care and Letting Go

“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” ~ Deborah Day

 

One of the habits for wellbeing I am passionate about is self-care (so passionate in fact I wrote an online course on it called Nourishing You!). I know over the years some people have forgotten to take care of and nurture themselves for a variety of reasons, but it is important.

Self-care similar to when you are travelling on an airplane and the air hostess indicates “put the face-mask on yourself first and then assist others.” The more we nurture our own needs through self-care, the more present and supportive we can be for other people. An important part of self-care is emotional self-care.

Our emotions are energy in motion and not apart of who we truly are (even though they feel like they are sometimes, they are giving us information). They can change from moment to moment depending on –

  • the thoughts we are thinking,
  • the actions we take,
  • the environment we are in (including relationships), and
  • the food we eat.

Subsequently, we need to continually practice emotional self-care by coming back to the present moment and releasing or letting go of emotions.

 

22 Ways to Practice Emotional Self-Care and Letting Go

As we are all YOU’nique, it is important to understand what self-care is for us and then identify ways to practice emotional self-care and allow ourselves to move through the emotions ecologically (i.e. good for ourselves, good for others and good for the environment).

Even though many of our emotions are to do with situations, memories or experiences from the the past or projecting off in to the future, we still need to gently turn towards them (instead of suppressing/repressing, trying to avoid them or dumping them on other people) so we can allow them to come to the surface and then let them go.

Following are 22 ways to practice emotional self-care and letting go –

  1. Learn to say yes to yourself and your needs. Yes, we all have essential needs and it is important to honour yours!
  2. Cultivate emotional intelligence. Honour and respect your emotions, however be aware they are not really you and you can choose to let them go.
  3. Take care of and start listening to your body. When you start paying attention and listening to your body, you will notice it is giving you signals in relation to how it is feeling and what it needs.
  4. Become aware of your language and what you say to yourself. Remember how you speak to yourself is linked to your emotions.
  5. Learn to identify triggers to your emotions. Once you have identified your triggers, identify different ways to consciously respond or be with them in an ecological way (i.e. safe for you, the environment and other people).
  6. Realise the importance of having boundaries – for yourself and others. Then decide to have and cultivate them.
  7. Practice meditation and learn how to be with this moment.
  8. Ask for help or get support from a coach, a mental health professional or someone you trust to support you on your journey.
  9. Make time in your schedule for rest and white space.
  10. Take time out to reflect in your journal and identify what is bothering you.
  11. Develop the habit of gratitude. Maybe make a gratitude jar so you can celebrate the things you are grateful for each day.
  12. Give unconditionally – no strings attached. Whilst you are doing this, notice how it feels!
  13. Allow yourself to receive. Yes you may like to give, however you also have to learn to receive. It may be you start saying thank you to a compliment. Whatever feels best for you, however allow yourself to receive with grace.
  14. Become aware of your self-talk or inner critic, but realise that inner critic is not the true wisdom within you as your true wisdom doesn’t speak to you like that!
  15. Practise self-compassion daily.
  16. Allow yourself to make mistakes (ecologically of course) and realise no-one is perfect.
  17. Listen to your favourite music. Maybe even create a playlist for self-care or self-love!
  18. Be responsible for your actions.
  19. Have some fun and enjoy life. Identify some activities that you enjoy and schedule them in to your diary. Maybe even have a relaxing bath with essential oils!
  20. Tap in to your creativity. Maybe it’s cooking, drawing, painting, dancing or ??? Identify what you enjoy and take some time out to play.
  21. Accept yourself – “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
  22. “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” ~ Unknown.

So there you have it, 22 ways to practice emotional self-care.

 

Over to You…

Do you have any other ways? If so, feel free to share them below or on our Facebook page.

If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heartwhy not join our Toolkit? You can also see the self-care toolkit here.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Page Reference –

I have had many people want to reference this page, so here is the correct reference. Thanks in advance for honouring my work 🙂

Taylor, J. (2015). 22 Ways to Practice Emotional Self-Care and Letting Go. [WWW] Available from: https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/22-ways-practice-emotional-self-care-letting-go/ [Accessed …….. ]

21 Comments

  • The Toothbrush Expert

    Reply Reply January 16, 2022

    Thanks for the article. I really believe in this positive mindset.

  • ahuva

    Reply Reply November 18, 2021

    What is your full name-so I can cite you

  • Susan Brochin

    Reply Reply December 24, 2020

    PS.. An should be AND.. Just realized that if we click on the blue there is a detailed description of each of these. WOW just WOW and thanks for all the love and joy you gave to put this piece together. Love and Joy to you.

    • Jane

      Reply Reply December 24, 2020

      Thanks Susan – can you let me know which An should be AND? Not sure what you mean. Thank you 🙂

  • Susan Brochin

    Reply Reply December 24, 2020

    This is perfect… I LOVE all the suggestions an pragmatic ways to get thru this time.
    Love and Joy to you.

    • Jane

      Reply Reply December 24, 2020

      Thanks so much Susan – appreciate your comments.

Leave A Response

* Denotes Required Field